Aura Australis

I have a migraine, apparenlty. I usually know when I get them, because they hurt. Tonight, however, whilst sitting at dinner with friends & family, I started getting these weird little flashy "S" shapes, which I thought were "floaters" at first - you know those annoying things that bob around in your eyeball that you notice when you close your eyes.

Well, I've never been fortunate enough to see either the northern or southern auroras, but I'm seeing an aura...it's as if someone is flittering prism shapes all around the edge of my vision. It's actually pretty cool, as long as I can still see and not come away with a headache.

Speaking of shiny things, we're getting a shiny new office (eventually). We are in the middle of a renovation process which will give us a bit more room, and indoor toilets. Many places still have outdoor toilets, which is certainly interesting as they are not climate-controlled, and the climate varies quite drastically in Victoria. I won't complain that we used to get rained on sometimes, because we need the rain...but it will be nice to have the choice not to get wet!

I'm actually going to have a very flash reception desk, and we're getting ducted heating and cooling as well. The agents are getting their own offices now, too. When the dust settles (literally), it will be a very good thing.

Friends and Fond Memories

We had more sad news this week. Another good friend of ours, Robert, passed away unexpectedly this past week. Robert was loved dearly by his friends, and to say he will be greatly missed just doesn't express it well enough. It's daunting to write about how well loved someone was. To those suffering the loss, words don't seem to carry enough meaning, or weight.

I am very glad I knew Robert. He brought a hope and deterimation and adventure to life that was truly amazing and inspiring.

But it's not just the amazing people that add to my life. It's the ordinary, the everyday, the people who are there in their different ways that make my life rich. My parents, my brother & sisters, my relations, all my in-laws, my friends, my husband, my co-workers (whether your on this side of the planet or the other), you are an important part of my life...I'm very glad you're there, in your own ways, and love you for it.

Here's praying that even more hope -- and maybe some (good) adventure -- be added to mix of our lives.

Living The Australian Dream

Anyone who's moved to a new place knows it takes a while to get acclimated. The same with jobs. The way I could tell I'd really gotten entrenched in my job is when I started dreaming about it. Not nightmares as a result of stress, just regular dreams.

Over the past few years I've dreamed a lot about my past - usually college. Perhaps it's just a part of getting older, but I think it really started happening in earnest when I was getting ready to be uprooted and transplanted to the opposite side of this big blue/green planet. Lately those dreams have intensified. I think I hit a breakthrough last night, however. In my dream I was handling U.S. money, and in my dream I was commenting that they looked wrong. They weren't different colours and sizes like money should be.

The other thing that makes me wonder if I'm acclimatising has to do with the fact that periodically, I have to remind myself to go to the "other" side of the car, or I can, without thinking, be unable to start the car immediately due to a lack of steering column on the passenger side. So, after a long, intense day at work, I headed for my little red car...and found myself looking at that passenger seat again. Only this time, I had been telling myself "other side"!

Well, it's a good thing my brain is starting to work out which side of the car to get on (and how to pay for things) here. Otherwise, things could "head north" pretty quickly.

Pots and Fans

We've been watching yet another reality show, Master Chef Australia. It's not the same as watching a good cooking show, but you do pick up the occasional useful tip here and there. One of the tips actually helped improve my omelet technique.

Of course, you always see them using high quality pans and excellent knives, and I've been discovering that these actually do make a difference. On my last birthday (while my Dad was visiting), Andrew remembered something I'd mentioned in passing, that I'd like one of those heavy-duty "grill" pans. Now, before anyone thinks this is unromantic, this is a French cast iron, enamel-coated grill pan. Who knows romance better than the French?

This pan makes the most fabulous chops and steaks which consistently make my cooking better. Dad and Andrew enjoyed some lovely steaks as a result of this birthday gift. It also inspired me to save my pennies for a French cast-iron enamelled dutch oven.

So cookware is romantic...but I draw the line at household cleaning products. Although, a household cleaner would be just fine.